Steve Smith left dry-heaving in ‘gruesome’ scene in WTC disaster

Australia looks almost certain to lose the World Test Championship final as its rabble of a batting line-up took a major blow.

Australian vice-captain Steve Smith sustained a sickening finger injury on a disastrous day three of the World Test Championship final for Australia as South Africa closed in on a famous victory.

Aiden Markram’s superb century left South Africa on the brink of ending decades of heartbreak in major tournaments as the Proteas reached stumps at Lord’s on 2/213 in their second innings, needing just 69 runs to win.

Watch England vs India Test Series LIVE & EXCLUSIVE on Fox Cricket, available on Kayo Sports| New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.

As batting finally became easier on day three, Australia was made to pay for its second innings top order collapse - and the uncertainty around the Aussie line-up will only increase with Smith a chance to miss the upcoming West Indies tour, foxsports.com.au reports.

Chasing a 282-run target for victory at the home of cricket, the Proteas were 2/72 when Mitchell Starc found the outside edge of Temba Bavuma’s bat, with the Dukes ball sailing towards Smith at chest height.

The 36-year-old, who was donning a helmet and positioned closer than an orthodox first slip to negate the lack of carry, grassed the sharp chance to gift Bavuma an extra life on 2 and deny Starc a third wicket.

To make matters worse for the Australians, Smith damaged the little finger on his right hand while attempting the catch, with the digit pointing in the wrong direction as he returned to his feet. Dry-heaving at the sight of his hand, he ran off the field in serious pain accompanied the Australian doctor and physiotherapist.

Steve Smith was dry-heaving after seeing the state of his finger. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Pat Cummins calls for the trainers. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Australia's Steve Smith reacts in pain as he leaves the field. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Cricket Australia later confirmed that Smith had suffered a compound dislocation in his finger and would be sent for scans at a nearby hospital, putting him in serious doubt for the Caribbean tour, which gets underway on June 26.

“He will have eight weeks, at least, possibly with some rehab time,” former Australian opener Matthew Hayden said in commentary. “There is a potential for surgery there, for sure.”

WARNING: GRAPHIC PHOTO BELOW

Smith’s bone went through skin in the brutal injury as Bavuma made the most of being dropped.

Wouldn't be surprised if Steve Smith misses at least the start of the West Indies tour. A very nasty injury.#WTCFinalpic.twitter.com/l58xL3yRkN

— CricBlog ✍ (@cric_blog) June 13, 2025

South African opener Markram, dismissed for a duck in the first innings, was 102 not out and South Africa captain Temba Bavuma unbeaten on 65 despite spending most of his innings limping with a hamstring injury.

The pair have shared an unbroken stand of 143 as South Africa pursue what will be, if they achieve it, the second-highest successful run chase in a Test at Lord’s and secure the Proteas’ first International Cricket Council title since the 1998 ICC Knockout.

“There was great joy in the changing room for Aiden’s hundred and his partnership with Temba is right up there in the history of South African cricket, but the job is not yet done,” Proteas batting coach Ashwell Prince told the BBC.

South Africa all-rounder Wiaan Mulder said a change in approach had been key to the team’s improved batting display on Friday following a meagre 138 all out in their first innings.

“We had to go for it whatever they (Australia) got,” he told Sky Sports. “There was a lot less fear of failure.”

South Africa will be desperate to get over the line.

In 18 previous attempts in the one-day international and T20 world cups, they have only reached a solitary final - at last year’s T20 World Cup in Barbados, when they fell apart within sight of victory.

Australia’s Mitchell Starc had starred earlier Friday with both bat and ball to put his team in charge and seemingly on their way to victory.

Mitchell Starc put in a superb effort with the bat for Australia. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

While South African skipper Temba Bavuma appeared short of answers. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

The tailender made 58 not out in Australia’s second-innings total of 207 and then, in his main role of left-arm fast bowler, dismissed Ryan Rickelton (six) and Mulder (27) to leave the Proteas 2/70.

But with any early moisture in the surface long gone, conditions for batting at a sun-drenched Lord’s were now as good as at any time in the match.

Markram, aggressive from the outset, punched and pulled Australia captain Pat Cummins for well-struck fours.

With Australia appearing to miss absent former captain Smith’s tactical input, Bavuma produced the occasional gem of a shot, including a glorious drive down the ground off Cummins.

Australia spinner Nathan Lyon almost dismissed both batsmen, with Markram aiming a booming drive at a sharply turning off-break, only to miss the ball completely before it also beat wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

Bavuma had made 43 when a slog-sweep off Lyon just evaded a diving Sam Konstas at deep midwicket as the substitute fielder attempted to pull off a low catch, only for the ball to run away for four.

Soon afterwards, the diminutive Bavuma, who has a history of hamstring trouble, completed a gritty 83-ball fifty.

Markram went to 97 with a brilliant straight-driven boundary off Josh Hazlewood and, shortly before stumps, clipped the fast bowler through midwicket to complete his hundred with an 11th four in 156 balls faced.

South Africa enjoyed an early breakthrough at the start of the day’s play when paceman Kagiso Rabada had Lyon LBW to leave Australia 9/148 in their second innings.

But tailender Starc, dropped by Marco Jansen late Thursday, kept the Proteas at bay, ably assisted by Hazlewood, while making the 11th fifty of his 97-Test career.

Part-time spinner Markram eventually succeeded where the frontline bowlers had failed when Hazlewood holed out to end a 59-run partnership for the last wicket.

Paceman Rabada took 4/59 to finish with nine wickets in the match.

- with AFP

Originally published as Steve Smith left dry-heaving in ‘gruesome’ scene in WTC disaster